‘Mindless thug’ goes on car window smashing spree in Cookstown

Shauna Corr

A number of Cookstown residents are counting the cost of vehicle repairs after a ‘senseless vandal’ smashed windows in three cars and a van in the early hours of Saturday morning [Dec 9].

All of the vehicles, which were parked on Loy Street and Convent Road, will now have to be repaired at a cost of hundreds to their owners.

This Seat Leon will need a new back window

The rear window was smashed in a blue Toyota Yaris, which was parked in a drive way off Loy Street, and also a navy Seat Leon near St Vincent de Paul.

One woman found out about the damage when a police man knocked on her door on Saturday morning.

“I am very angry about this,” she said. “The cost of replacing the back window is not something I needed to be burdened with just after Christmas.

“The person who did this clearly has no thought for anyone else, and what’s even worse, he appears to have done it for no other reason than getting a kick. This is the incredibly selfish act of a mindless thug.”

The door was bent on this vehicle

The owner of a car damaged on Convent Road added: “We don’t leave the cars on the street but park up the side of SVP so we thought we would be grand as it’s about three of four years since anything happened to cars up Convent Lane.

“We are very shocked and disappointed to have been a target of someone’s complete mindless act of criminality.

“The inconvenience and cost is not something anyone needs after the Christmas period.

“We hope this is an isolated incident and not something which is going to be a regular occurrence in Cookstown.”

A hooded male attacked four cars, this window shattered

It is understood a lone male wearing white trainers, a hooded top and tracksuit bottoms caused the damage at around 4am on Saturday.

The officer investigating the case said he appeared to have something in his hand while hitting the cars, and after targeting one on Convent Road, came back to damage the others.

CCTV is being examined, but anyone with information is asked to call Cookstown PSNI on the 101 number.

Second car with shattered window on Cemetery Road

A police spokesperson said: “Police are appealing for information following windows in four cars being smashed in the Cookstown area sometime between the evening of Friday, January 8 and Saturday morning, January 9.

“Information can be given to Police on the non-emergency number 101.

“Or, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.”